University of South Carolina Libraries
Fox, Kirby and Gappins With Father of Slain Bo "How does it feel to stand ' iace to face with the father o: Doy you killed?" This question was asked yest? morning in the death house a state penitentiary of S. J. Kirb O. Fox and Jesse Gappins by T Brazell, father of William Br the young taxi driver, for v murder Kirby, Gappins and Fo: to die in the electric chair Fr and the only answer the three could give was the repetition of stories as to how the crime place. . It was Mr. Brazell's first vis the three men since their senten although he had sat through the and had twice heard Kirby, Gai and Fox sentenced to die. The was made at the request of K who asked Mr. Brazell to call al death house to see him before electrocution. None of the three recognized Mr. Brazell when he fronted them, separated from t only by the barred cell doors. 'Tm glad to see you," Kirby the murdered boy's father, but here. I wanted to see you befo: left this world to tell you that fore God I am sorry for what I I would to God that I could excha with your boy and would gladly down my life if I could bring back." "What I never could understai Mr. Brazell interrupted, "is why three big strapping men had to my little boy to take his car." "Its' a mystery to me, too, Ki said. "I'd never seen him bef< Gappins and Fox were waiting me at the Seaboard station and t told me first to get Big Bill's car J it had been burned up so they t me then to get any car and I s your boy's car parked near M street. It was the first one I came and that's the reason that he \ killed. Boy's Mother Invalid. "Kirby," Mr. Brazell told h: "yon have talked a good deal ab< your wife and I am sorry for h hut did you ever think of my p< boy's mother, who was an invalid the time of the boy's murder a ever since.?" "I am sorry for them and for yoi Kirby answered. "I am sorry i what I did and I wish that the b had killed us all three rather th have it happen as it .did. But I wa someone to look after my wife a: child when I am dead." "Well," Mr. Brazell told him panting, "as far as you are concern I leave if up to you and your God Gappins denied any knowledge the fact that young Brazell was have been killed, claiming that he hi thought that Kirby was to pick i a car on the street which they cou then drive to Florida and sell. "If had known he was to be killed," Ga; pins told Mr. Brazell, "I would n< have gone. If it had been left to ir he would have been alive today. "You held his hand while he wi being killed," Mr. Brazell told hin "You drove the car. It could not hav been carried out if you had lei them. Why didn't you quit? You hav had a lot to say about your mothe since you have been here. Why didn' you think of the mother of my boy He was the only champion she had I was away from the house durinj the day. Why didn'tyou think abou her and your mother before you com mitted the crime?" Gappins hung his head. "I knov how his mother feels," he said. "Anc I'm sorry for her." Mr. Brazell turned to leave. "Gap pins," he said, "I believe you are th( worst of the three of you. You hav? tried to shield yourself behind Fo> and Kirby and you and Kirby lacked the courage to play the part thal Fox did." "I'm ready to meet my God with the story I've told," Gappins said, and Mr. Brazell then turned to Fox, who is confined in the adjoining cell. Sorry for Fox. "Fox," he said, "I feel sorry for you. I've met your father and found him to be a gentleman and he told me that he had tried to raise you right. But, I suppose, you came here away from home and got in with the bad company you did. You, I believe, have told the truth." "Yes," Fox answered, "my father's & good man and I don't say so be cause he is my father. I've nothing to say against my raising. Gappins told me about it first and then about a week later Gappins ar d Kirby and I talked it over together and that night Kirby went and got the " car while we waited at the Seaboard sta tion. Then we got in and Kirby told him where to go. I had the black jack which had been given to Gappins by Kirby and to me by Gappins. Sever al times along the road Gappins and Kirby got out of the car and talked together and each time they would some back and tell me what they had plotted., Finally Kirby got in the back seat with me and told me to tell the boy to stop and then to hit him with the black jack. I did and the black jack flew to pieces and Kirby and Gappins got out on the right hand side of the car with the boy while I got out on the left. When I came around the back of the car they were holding him and Kirby was choking him. I had opened my knife and Kir by told me to stab him-that some thing had to be done. And I stuck the knife in him while the other two held him. Once my conscience revolted against it and I stepped away, but they told me io go on and I did. I'm not denying my part. I am sorry. I was in with them and had promised to help them and I did." i "I hope you have found peace," the boy's father told Fox in leaving. "It is now between you and your God." Fox showed the most genuine emo tion of the three while Gappins ap peared "to be in an argumentative, almost defiant mood. "If ever three men went to hell," Mr. Brazell said as he left the death house, "I believe these three will go."-The State. Dial Took Lead in Mixson Fight. Washington, June 9.-Acting on recommendation of the senate com mittee on postoffices and postroads the senate formally rejected the nom ination of B. J. Mixson to be postmas ter at Orangeburg tonight. Senator N. B. Dial fought the nomi nation of Mixson and unquestionably caused its defeat. In a formal state ment prepared for this newspaper to day Senator Dial set forth his rea sons for fighting Mixson. From that statement it appears that postoffice inspectors .sent to Orangeburg to in vestigate charges against Mixson did not recommend that he be confirmed by the senate, but that such charges be dropped. In his statement Senator Dial declares: "I deem it necessary to state that it was not a question of Mixson's confirmation that the postoffice in spectors were investigating, their sole purpose having been to ascer tain whether or not Mixson had ap proached Miss Alice Singletary, post master at Bowman, either directly or indirectly, informed her that if she would pay him $300 he would see that she would receive the nomina tion of that office. "The report of the two inspectors stated that it was Mixson's desire to cause Miss Singletary to pay him $300 for his alleged influence. They recommended that inasmuch as he had subsequents become a candidate for the postoffice at Orangeburg, they believed the investigation they had made would prevent further attempts of this nature. Therefore, they rec omended that the case be closed. "I wish simply to add that when this matter of extortion of money from a woman came to my attention, I did all I could to run it down and ascertain its truth. The facts as found to exist and which are now on file in Washington substantiate Miss Single tary's statement that she had been asked for $300. I would not for a mo ment think of standing by and see ing a good woman thus most outra geously imposed upon." Heavy Rainfall Drawing to a Close. The period of excessive rainfall is drawing to a close-diminishing both in frequency and quantity. It has been unprecedented-the oldest in habitants having teen nothing like it. The Dutch Weather Prophet re members weather conditions from the time of "Sherman's freshet" in February, 1865-he is not an old in habitant, either-and no year since that time has produced such a long and continuous period of rainfall. This forecaster is of the opinion that weather conditions of 100 years ago have been reproduced to a great ex tent during the past five months when there have not been five days of suc cessive sunshine in the Piedmont, with similar conditions prevailing throughout the Southwest. Seasonable rainfall will continue throughout the summer. Serious drought is not expected. The usual normal temperature will prevail in daytime with cool nights, the change manifesting itself each day about sundown. September will not be the hot month it was in 1920 and 1921, the Dutch prophet says. Usually cool weather will begin around Septem ber 4. The most serious disturbance of the character of a storm originat ing in the tropics and affecting the South Atlantic coajst will occur1 around October 23.-The State. FOR SALE: A limited quantity of Batte's Prolific corn for seed at $2.00 per bushel. E. J. MIMS. Hymns Taken From Rev. A. T. Allen's Calendar of Last 'Sunday. Hymn 26 Jesus shall reign where'er the sun Does his successive journeys run; His kingdom spread from shore to shore, Till moons shall wax and wane no more. From north to south the princes meet To pay their homage at His feet; While western empires own their Lord, And savage tribes attend His word. To Him shall endless prayer be made, And endless praises crown His head; His name like sweet perfume shall rise, With ev'ry morning sacrifice. Hymn 27 O Zion, haste, thy mission high ful filling, To tell to all the world that God is light; That He who made all nations is not willing One soul should perish, lost in shades of night. Chorus Publish glad tidings, tidings of peace; Tidings of Jesus, redemption and release. Behold how many thousands still are lying Bound in the darksome prison house of sin, With none to tell them of the Sa viour's dying Or of the life He died for them to live. - Proclaim to every people, tongue and nation That God, in whom they live and move is love; Tell how He stooped to save His lost creation And died on earth that man might live above. Hymn 234 I am a stranger here, within a for eign land, My home is far away, upon a gold en strand; Ambassadors to be of realms be yond the sea, I'm here on business for my King. Chorus This is the message that I bring, A message angels fain would sing: "0 be ye reconciled," thus saith my Lord and King, "0 be ye reconciled to God." This is the King's command, that all men everywhere Repent and turn away from sin's seductive snare; That all who will obey with Him shall reign for aye, And that's my business for my King. My home is brighter far than Sha ron's rosy plain, Eternal life and joy throughout its vast domain; My Sovereign bids me tell how mortals there may dwell, And that's my business for my King. Vesper Verse, Hymn 163 Day is dying in the west, Heaven is blessing earth with rest, Wait and worship while the night Sets her evening lamps'alight Through all the sky! Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts Heav'n and earth are full of Thee Heav'n and earth are praising Thee 0 Lord, Most High! Hymn 5 Sun of my soul, Thou Saviour dear It is not night if Thou be near; Oh, may :io earth-born cloud arise To hide Thee from Thy servant's eyes. When the soft dews of kindly sleep My wearied eyelids gently steep, Be my last thought, how sweet to rest Forever on my Saviour's breast. Abide with me from morn till eve, For without Thee I can not live, i Abide with m? when night is nigh, ' For without Thee I can not die. , If some poor, wandering child of ! Thine, Has spurned today the voice di vine- ] Now, Lord, the gracious work be- } gin, . , Let him no more lie down in sin. Hymn 34 1 Holy Ghost, with light divine, Shine upon this heart of mine, Chase the shades of night away, Turn my darkness into day. Holy Ghost, with pow'r divine, Cleanse this guilty heart of mine; ' Long hath sin without control, < Held dominion o'er my soul. ? Holy Ghost, with joy divine, Cheer this saddened heart of mine; Bid my many woes depart, Heal my wounded, bleeding heart. Don't say shock absorbers say "Hasslers."-Y. M. C. We have pure and mixed field peas for planting. * Edgefield Mercantile Co. Notice of Opening of Books for Enrollment of Voters in the Democratic Primary Election, 1922. Notice is hereby given that the fol lowing enrollment committees have been appointed to enroll the voters of Edgefield county for the Demo cratic Primary for the year 1922, and as provided by the Rules of the Democratic Primary of South Caro lina. The books of.enrollment will be opened for each club at the places herein below designated on June 6th, 1922, and remain open fer the en li ment of voters through the last Tues day in July, 1922, after which day said books will be closed; and within three days thereafter each Secretary of the respective clubs shall transmit the original roll (book) to the coun ty chairman. Bacon: J. M. Yonce, secretary; J. H. Bouknight, W. H. Smith, Place store of J. M. Yonce. Cleveland: S. T. Pettigrew, secre tary; T. L. Talbert, D. W. Smith. Place-store of S. T. Pettigrew. Colliers: D. T. Mi this, secretary; W. G. Wells, Joe Hammond. Place Store of D. T .Mathis. Calhoun: W. S. Mobley, secretary; J. L. Mobley, A. M.' Clark. Place store of J. C. Lewis. Edgefield No. 1: W. E. Lott, sec retary; A. H. Corley, L. W. ?heat ham. Place-Store of B. B. Jones. Edgefield No. 2: J. W. Kemp, sec hetary; S. B. Mays, J. D. Kemp. Place -'Store of Edgefield Mercantile Co. Lee: J. W. Cox, secretary; Mrs. T. R. Denny, John Wright. Place-Store of Lott, Walker Co. Long Branch: L. C. Clark, secre tary; D. G. Derrick, L. S. Yonce. Place-Store of L. C. Clark. Meeting Street: J. K. Allen, sec retary; J. R. Blocker, G. R. Logue. Place-Store of C. W. Owdom. Meriwether: J. A. Thurmond, sec retary; J. 0. Scott, Dr. Harris Math is. Place-Store of J. A. Thurmond. Moss: P. B. West, secretary; L. R. Brunson, Sr., T. P. Morgan. Place Store of West & Williams. Pleasant Lane: F. L. Timmerman, secretary; M. B. Byrd, J. B. Minick. Place-Store of F. L. Timmerman. Red Hill: T. W. Quarles, secretary; H. W. Quarles, Miss Sallie Smith. Place-Red Hill Store. Ropers: John Boswell, secretary; B. T. Lanham, F. F. Rainsford. Place -Store of Johi Boswell. Rock Hill: J. C. C. Seigler, secre tary; R. T. West, J. P. Sullivan. Place -Store of J. J. Mayson. Trenton: Butler Whitlock, secre tary; A. C. Yonce, J. D. Mathis, Jr. Places-Store of Mathis & Whitlock. Th? qualifications for club mem bership and for voting at Primary Election are as follows: .The voter shall be twenty-one years of age, or shall become so be fore the succeeding general election and be a white democrat. He shall be a citizen of the United States and of-this State. No person shall belong to any club or vote in any primary unless he has resided in the United States two years and in the county six months prior to the succeeding general election and in the club dis trict 60 days prior to the first pri mary following his offer to enroll: Provided, That public school teach ers* and ministers of the Gospel in charge of a regular organized church ?hall be exempt from the provisions of this section as to residence, if otherwise qualified. A new enroll ment is required each election year ander the Primary Rules. J. H. CANTELOU, County Chairman. June 5, 1922. WINTHROP COLLEGE Scholarship and Entrance Exami nation. The examination for the award of vacant Scholarships in Winthrop Col lege and for admission of new stu dents will be held at the County Court House on Friday, July 7, at 9 a. m. Applicants must not be less than sixteen years of age. When Scholar ships are vacant after July 1, they ?rill be awarded to those making the highest average at this examination, provided they meet the conditions governing the award. Applicants for Scholarships should write to Presi dent Johnson before the examina tion for Scholarship examination blanks. Scholarships the worth $100 and free tuition. The next session will open September 20th, 1922. For fur ther information and catalogue, ad dress Pres. D. B. Johnson, Rock Hill, South Carolina. Eyes scientifically examined and glasses properly fitted. GEO. F. MIMS, Optometrist-Optician, r x. Edgefield, S. C. THE FARMERS BANK OF EDGEFIELD, S. C. Is Depository for Public Funds of Town of Edgefield, of County of Edgefield, of State of South Carolina and of the United States in this District. The Strongest Bank zn Edgefield County SAFETY FIRST IS AND WILL BE OUR MOTTO Open your account with us for 1922. At the same time start a Savings Account with us, or invest in one of our INTEREST BEAR ING CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT. Lock boxes for rent in which to keep your valuable papers. All business matters referred to us pleasantly and carefully handled. WE SOLICIT YOUR BUSINESS HappyFee? You want your stock and poultry to be happy, healthy and profitable to you. Be sure you are getting the most out of them by feeding. Happy Stock Feeds These high grade balanced rations are manufactured by Edgar-Morgan Company of Memphis. They are the result of the newest discoveries in animal nutrition-both in laboratory experiments and feeding tests. They are made of the highest grade feeding materials, in a mill that represents the last word in scientific equipment The Happy line consists of the following well known feeds; Old Beck Chop Feed (A money-saving ration for work animals) Happy Cow Sweet Feed (The world's best dairy ration) Happy Hen Buttermilk Mash (The greatest egg-making feed known) Manna or Happy Hen Scratch Feed (Makes hens earn their living) Happy CDiick Growing Mash (Contains dry buttermilk-good for little chicks) Happy ('hick Scratch Feed (Keeps baby chicks hustling, happy and healthy) Happy Feeds produce the biggest results per dollar of feed cost No matter whether you are a large or a small user, you owe it to yourself and your stock to give these feeds a trial. Start to-day. / Edgefield Mercantile Co., Edgefield, S. C. . Ul I Kl J >:< t?MZMl Ml ?\l H i$U2 K( I ?;i-; j;<:r ):rI ):V;:>:(i{:):( I ?:i ?jS* Barrett & Company (INCORPORATED) Jg M COTTON FACTORS j i Augusta.Georgia Consult Your Own Interest by Consulting Us When Buying Roofing Metal or Composition Mantels, Tiling, Grates Trim Hardware Wall Board Doors, Sash, etc. FROM j Youngblood Roofing and Mantel Company 635 Broad St. Telephone 1697 AUGUSTA, GEORGIA